A musical family [graphic]

"The instrumentalists are closely grouped round the armchair of the father of the family, a stout man in old-fashioned dress, who sits full face singing loudly, an open music book on his knees, his feet supported on the bar of his chair. His very fat wife sits beside him (right) blowing a trumpet to the grotesque inflation of cheek and neck. The eldest daughter (left) plays the double-bass; behind her stands a girl beating a tambourine. The younger children flank the design: a fat little girl (left) plays the triangle, looking up at her sister's tambourine. On the right a little boy sits at his mother's feet beating a large kettle-drum and shouting; he sits on two large volumes: 'Doctor Burneys Musical Travels [i.e., The Present State of Music in France and Italy ... 1771', and 'The Present State of Music in Germany . . . [etc.]', 2 v. 1773]. Mother and daughters are fashionably dressed; the daughters are comely. A howling dog seated on the extreme left adds to the impression of violent noise."--British Museum online catalogue